Revised Class Description: Running Your Hospital Library Like a Business

New Webinar: Running Your Hospital Library Like a Business

Hospital librarians provide a valuable service to their hospitals, a service that needs to be managed like the business it is. Through a series of four, 90-minute online classes, you will: define and describe how your organization calculates you dollar value; walk through the steps needed to write a business plan that matches the mission and objectives of your hospital; learn to be a convincing negotiator; learn how to show your worth with dollar signs rather than anecdotes. As you look at the business of hospital libraries, you will develop a business backbone, allowing you to provide valued services that are aligned with the values of your hospital. In these challenging times developing a strategic business sense is essential.

Beginning May 31 running four successive Fridays, 1:30 – 3:00 pm (ET)

Participants in this series of programs will further develop their library business skills. Goals specific to each session include:

May 31/ Session 1: A Paradigm Shift: Asking “Why” Before Saying “Yes”

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: a) Define and describe how their organization calculates their dollar value; b) List two questions that explain how their job value is calculated from a HR/Finance perspective; c) Identify and describe their hospital or system’s strategic imperatives; d) Analyze the role of selective dissemination of information in demonstrating worth; e) Discuss the importance of the reference interview and the all-important ‘why’ question; f) Define the people we serve.

June 7/ Session 2: Writing a Business Plan

At the conclusion of this session, participants will: a) Know the benefits of writing a business plan and how to write one; b) Describe their library’s business/focus; c) Identify the people they serve; d) Have written the beginning of their library’s business plan.

June 14/ Session 3: The Art of Negotiation

At the conclusion of this session, participants will: a) Appreciate strategic approaches to negotiating; b) Know at least three specific negotiating strategies; c) Identify examples of workplace situations where these negotiating strategies may be applied; d) Develop negotiating strategies and know to which workplace situation they apply.

June 21/ Session 4: Proving Your Worth / Adding to Your Value

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: a)Calculate the dollar value of services in a way their hospital administrators can appreciate; b) Demonstrate their worth through information dissemination; c) Determine their customers’ needs; d) Align the library’s mission and objectives to that of the hospital; e) Conduct community outreach.